I purposely depicted this Striper in a cartoonish style while still maintaining a good amount physical accuracy. The slope of the sandbar and the pale blue current further enhance the animated effect of the composition and offer a sense of movement.

My family were avid fishermen. Only my Uncle Bob is left from the original “Beckert 5”, as I like to call my Nana, Grandpop, my dad & his 2 brothers. I don’t recall Nana fishing, but I do vividly remember her cooking batch after batch of delicious fish. I’m not sure she left the kitchen for more than a couple hours at a time.

This is a big fish, the fabled “One that Got Away”. He’s colored primarily in blue, as my dad & I were born under the astrological sign of Aries, and diamond & aquamarine are our designated birthstones. His enormous head represents Aries’ animal, the Ram. Trust me, both my dad & I have always displayed the brutally honest, impetuous, challenge-conquering traits that our sign is known for.

I painted this while I was thinking of my dad and his struggle with Alzeimer’s, but after he was already gone. That terrible disease seemed to have returned his brain to a state of infancy, but left his body in the present. He always liked to watch cartoons with us as kids, and had an easy smile and great sense of humor. I thought this style of art would have cheered him up.

Acrylic on canvas

w16" x h12"

Framed in simple mahogany